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    Max's Restaurant

    4.0 (190 reviews)
    ModerateFilipino, Soup, Seafood
    Open 11:00 am - 8:00 pm

    Max's Restaurant Photos

    MAX'S RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - Max's Restaurant

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lumpia Bilao
    Kristen V.

    I got to introduce my boyfriend to some Filipino food! Aside from home cooked meals, I knew that Max's would be a great place for him to eat. The restaurant had interesting frames on the wall and a mural about Max's history. It was tastefully decorated and inviting. I think I'll always order the beef caldereta when I come here since it's my favorite dish. The meat is soft and tender while the veggies and potatoes still have a little crunch. Personally, prefer my veggies cooked softer. My boyfriend really liked the pancit canton. He said that he prefers the egg noodles. I had him try the fried chicken with banana ketchup, but he preferred the sweet and sour sauce. The service was great! Our waiter was very attentive. As soon as my glass of water was empty, they came to our table with a new glass.

    Nice, cozy setting for dinner with my son...
    Arnel S.

    Quite a pleasant surprise to find that this Filipino restaurant was near the hotel we were staying in. From my childhood, Max's always meant great tasting food, outstanding hospitality and reasonable pricing. The staff greeted us and sat us at the table of our choice...we came in before "rush hour". They were really friendly and highly knowledgeable of the food on their menu. My son's choice for tonight was the Beef Nilaga and it tasted just like Mom's cooking back home! We also had Calamansi Juice and Sago't Gulaman for me. I was expecting my son to be a little more bold with his food choice, but what he chose was good enough. The place was nice and comfortable. The decor was really pleasing to the eyes. The tables and the seating were comfortable as well. If you are in the area and looking for great Filipino fare, this is the place to be...

    Sizzling Caldereta
    Michelle J.

    Staff were great. Comfortable seating and they even have a party room. They did a great job remodeling what used to be a pizza place. Make you feel welcomed as soon as you walk in. If you are not familiar with the cuisine, they take the time to explain the dishes to you. I wish there was more description of ingredients on the menu. We have many Filipino's in our family and I was excited to try the food. Like with Mexican cuisine. . . everyone cooks differently. We ordered Lumping Shanghai appetizer. . . not what I am used to. . . They were small bite size egg rolls with a tasty dipping sauce. Hubby had the Pancit Canton. . . like a chow mein with thicker noodles and an order of puto. It was tasty. . . with a variety of proteins. Son had the Sizzling Caldereta. . . like a beef stew. . . same flavor. . . and white rice. I had Lechon Kawaii. . . crispy pork belly. OMG! that was my favorite of everything. . . Just needed some corn tortillas and some Chile. . . lol. . . It was so good. other than the fly that would not leave us alone, I would be back just for the pork belly. . . and maybe to try dessert. . . and maybe a specialty drink.

    Sharon Joy O.

    Definitely one of my favorite places to eat when craving filipino food. Its more nostalgic for me cause I use to eat at a Max Restaurant when we lived in LA. Sundays after church at the Glendale location . Just the ambiance alone makes me feel that I'm in my Lola's house during the holidays because the restaurant is full of people, laughing, telling jokes, enjoying the food. The one thing that impresses me with the staff is that they always deliver service with a smile. They are willing to take that group photos of you and your family... definitely creates that feeling of home away from home.

    Regular rice
    Brooke I.

    It's been a year since my last review and I'm adding a star because Max's has become one of the regular Bakersfield restaurants in my rotation. I have yet to find another place that serves better Filipino food in the area! Orders: Daing na bangus: fried marinated milkfish. Deliciously crispy and flavorful. Love this with a side of rice and spicy/garlic vinegar. I typically don't eat the skin or the fatty center (but some people like it). Def one of my favorite fish to eat! Sinigang (pork): a tangy soup that truly warms the soul. A good substitute for when I don't feel like making this at home. Pork adobo: a classic dish served with some fresh tomato and onion. Perfectly seasoned and very tender meat. Amazing with some rice. Lumpia Shanghai: little pork egg rolls that make for a nice appetizer. Calamansi juice: hard to explain this one. It's a citrus drink that's not too sweet. Super refreshing. Everyone who works here is super nice and welcoming. It's good for groups and plays nice music. Tons of parking as well. A+

    Basic combo with Pancit Bihon!
    Kathrine K.

    We were greeted and welcomed at the front, very enthusiastically! The food was absolutely delicious! The chicken was juicy and flavorful. I loved the Pancit. The banana ketchup was interesting very much like a sweet-and-sour sauce. The dessert was delicious although I didn't realize it was a different type of banana so it was very dense . Our server Destiny was delightful .

    Gooding around and enjoying the selfie booth while waiting for my orders.

    I like how the staff interact with customers, my kids thought that one of Max's staff is related to me because we were talking in Tagalog. My kids would enjoy taking selfies if they were with me in this visit #maxsbakersfield @maxsbakersfield #buzzybooth

    Drinks
    William G.

    I'm going to try something new, Maxs Philippine food sounds delicious, the folks here are extremely friendly and helpful , I ordered the most popular dishes to try . I ordered the whole fried chicken, also Lumpiang Shanghai "egg rolls" also the Pancit Canton " Egg noodles" , great vibe in here. The egg rooks came out quickly and were hot as expected, they were not greasy at all and the sweet sauce served with them was a perfect compliment to the meat and vegetable flavor. I'm trying not to over eat on the first dish but they are so good I cannot stop! The whole chicken was next to come out, there is no breading and the outside is very crispy and the inside is juicy, it came with a few French fries, the crispy chicken was delicious, the French fries were cold in 5 minutes but may that's how it's supposed to be , The oil used to cook the chicken had a clean taste and contributes to the clean taste The pork bbq skewers were next , nice presentation and I dug right in, The smoky taste and slightly sweet taste was very good, there are some pickled carrots on a cabbage leaf that really compliments the pork flavor , I'm so full right now , lol Next up is the Pancit Canton , this smells delicious, house made noodles with a little cabbage, chicken, green onions and shrimp , I'm not sure what sauce is put on the noodles but it's delicious There were frequent stops asking how I was doing , You do not need to order what I did but I'm glad I did , I can with confidence highly recommend this spot

    Krispy Pork Sisig
    Regina C.

    Ever since Max's opened in Bakersfield, I never got to try it and so my family and I decided to make it our dinner for the night. I was really excited! However, we were calling two different numbers; Apple Maps had a different number and Yelp had a different number. Neither answered our call. So it already started off rocky. Finally, I gave up on calling and ordered through their website. I ordered the Pork Sisig ($20), the Crispy Pata ($32) with extra sauce ($.75), and a small Taho ($5). We finally picked up our order and wow, the portion of the Pork Sisig was so small for how much it cost and the Taho was not good. The Taho was lacking flavor, a mix of cold and warm. The Crispy Pata was a good size and it did last for my family of 3 and while the Pork Sisig tasted good, it is not worth it for much it cost.

    menu
    Ethan A.

    it was okay, the chicken was decent but not that flavorful. I wish the kabob wasnt as cold as it was. the ambiance was decent i liked the photos that were hung up showing Filipino Culture. the service wasnt the greatest but we were the only people there and i assume the staff was tired.

    PatrickJ T.

    It's great to finally have a traditional sit down Filipino Restaurant in Bakersfield now! For years, we've only had the "turo turo" style Filipino restaurants. These are the type where you point at the food you want from what you see at their already cooked food hot displays. Kind of like a Panda Express style Filipino place. Anyways, Max's Restaurant is not like that which is wonderful. Been here a couple of times now. Food has been tasty each time. Even the times that we've had the food to go for takeout everything has still been quite yummy. My favorite my Filipino entrees at Max's are the Kare Kare which is a beef peanut stew. Only my Mom makes it better, but unfortunately she doesn't make it very often anymore. Two entrees that are terrible for our arteries, but taste so delicious are the Lechon Kawali and Max's Crispy Pata. They are so yummy, but also not the best for our overall health. So eat them in moderation folks. Sinigang with baboy (tamarind soup with pork) is another item that I really like here. Pork Skewers are a terrific choice. Of course, I can't forget Max's Fried Chicken. Good stuff!! Filipino cuisine is not an ethnic cuisine that most folks are familiar with. Max's offers a diverse selection of traditional Filipino food to try. I highly recommend this restaurant. Give them a try!!

    Crispy Pata
    Jeffrey S.

    I pass through Bakersfield a couple times a year, usually just staying the night on the way to Las Vegas. This time around, I was pleasantly surprised to see this Max's open (which it wasn't on my last trip in 2023). It was just a block away from my hotel, so my wife & I came for dinner early on Friday evening. We were seated right away (though by the time we finished dinner, most of the restaurant was full). Because we are just passing through, our order was more muted than usual. We "only" ordered the fried chicken, the crispy pata, pancit palabok, and garlic rice. The skin of the chicken was perfectly crispy without needing any breading, the crispy pata was much larger than we expected, and the pancit and rice were just like mom used to make (my Mom, at least). This was still a lot of food, which we could not hope to finish between just 2 people. We did take half of it back to the hotel, to be eaten when we get to our final destination in Sin City. The service was very good, even though the staff were running around to serve all the other customers. And the price was very reasonable with all the food that we received (basically food enough for 4 people). I can see this being our go-to spot on our future trips to town.

    Main restaurant
    Susan B.

    Max's Restaurant is located in the Hobby Lobby shopping center on the AMC Theater side, closer to Big Bear Diner. Look for the Red sign. Took my husband and stepdaughter to Max's after having had sampled the Philippine cuisine for a get together earlier in the week. I fell in LOVE with the egg rolls (my personal favorite) and wanted my family to try something new. We ordered a platter with the pork skewers, egg noodles canton, a whole fried chicken and the egg rolls. It was plenty of food (we had some leftovers to take home). This Combo platter was very reasonably priced for the amount of food and the presentation was great. My husband isn't much of a foodie, and like me loves the egg rolls, but the chicken was a little bland for him. My stepdaughter however made the suggested sauce of banana ketchup,Worcestershire sauce and pepper sauce. When used as a dipping sauce for the chicken it becomes the signature dish. She also loved the noodles with pork, chicken and shrimp. She even ordered dessert, caramelized bananas with vanilla ice cream, delicious! This is a true hidden gem. If you haven't tried Max's yet, you are missing out on some seriously good food!

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    5 months ago

    slow been here 44 minutes it's not busy but really slow still waiting just two of us and slow rude service

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    2 years ago

    Love the ambience and family friendly atmosphere here. Food is always fresh. We enjoy the pancit bihon and lechon kawali.

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    I was looking forward to trying this place but found it over priced and small portions

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    Page 2 of 5

    Ask the Community - Max's Restaurant

    When will the online ordering website available and do you offer curbside pick up?

    Online ordering is now available. Please go and check the website:… Read more

    When do they open?

    They just opened today.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill

    Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill

    4.1
    (94 reviews)
    4.0 mi
    $$

    I really like their food, they are very friendly and everything is great except their prices. I…read moreused to go buy food when they had their food truck next to fuegos, but it was too expensive I couldn't afford going there often. I went to the new location I only bought 2 bowls, 2 halo halos and 4 lumpias and my bill was $90+. Some of the food is marked at $2 extra and other items are $3 extra, if the bowl is $14 but you choose pancit and caldereta for example that's about $20 the bowl. I was really disappointed with the prices. But I love their food. I will return probably just for the halo halo, that's the best one I've ever had.

    A long time fan of their food truck and pop up. I went there with 4 friends. The place is nice,…read morebright, clean, with a lot of attention to details. It works like Panda Express, food is laid out and you order your food at the counter. I chose rice noodles, Chicken Afritada, and Pineapple Pork. The thin rice noodles were so good, with layer and layers of complex flavors. You need to try it. Thank me later. The Chicken Afritada is dark meat chicken chunks, potato, tomato, and mild spice. I loved it. I ordered pineapple pork because it was made with pork belly. The pineapple made the pork tender and melt in your mouth. So good. My friends all loved their food as well. If you are any where near coffee and olive, drop by for some really good Filipino food.

    Photos
    Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill
    Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill
    Sarap Filipino BBQ & Grill

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    Tofu House - Korean BBQ

    Tofu House - Korean BBQ

    4.1
    (479 reviews)
    1.1 mi
    $$

    food: honestly my favorite fried tofu ever. i've been…read morevegetarian for years and i've tried so many places, and nothing really compares to how they make it here. it's always hot, crispy, and just hits every time. i also love the japchae noodles, super flavorful and comforting. they have good vegetarian options in general which i really appreciate, and the prices aren't bad at all for the portions. environment: it's one of those small, family-owned spots that feels very real and authentic. not super modern or aesthetic, and you can tell the place is a little older, but it kind of adds to the experience at the same time. i don't know how to explain it... it's cozy but simple. it could use a little makeover to make it feel more inviting, but it still has charm. it's a bit small, so probably not the best for big groups, but really nice for a casual date or just grabbing food with friends. service: the servers are always attentive and nice, never had a rude experience. food comes out pretty fast and always fresh and hot. overall it's a great spot to take someone who hasn't tried korean food before, feels low pressure and the food speaks for itself.

    Not a great place for vegan options! The soup was water based and had very little flavor, and their…read morekimchi tasted weird to me. The japchae was on the sweeter side if you like that. The bibimbap rice also had very little flavor and did not get very crispy on the hot stone. The star of the show was definitely the veggie pancake - super crispy and flavorful even without egg. We loved the sauce that it came with! The server was super nice and made sure to separate the vegan banchan from the non-vegan banchan. She was also very attentive and double checked with the chef to make sure all our dishes were vegan.

    Photos
    Tofu House - Korean BBQ
    Mussels soup
    Mussels soup
    Brown rice upgrade

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    Brown rice upgrade
    Kalbi King Korean BBQ & Sushi

    Kalbi King Korean BBQ & Sushi

    3.5
    (357 reviews)
    4.3 mi
    $$

    I hate to give this update but there needs to be better management and supervision. We came in…read morearound 430 in the afternoon & more than half the restaurant was vacant but the staff all seemed to be "on break" with numerous tables waiting to be bussed! The food is always 5 star, once you can get it & order... also super slow if you need anything after the initial order. The bathroom ceiling is about to cave in due to leaks, stains on the walls & the view of the kitchen was super messy, dirty floors! Please do better!! Our family loves KBBQ & try to support this establishment but it is difficult in these conditions. There is more business to be had with better staffing and attention to details To be honest there are more workers today than other times I have seen yet they have more empty tables than full ones. It's a bad use of the overhead when they have empty tables but are making people wait 30 minutes or more to be seated. While it seems like there is only 1 server, the 3-4 other people are Moving slowly for whatever their job responsibilities are. Oh another thing, how can a Korean BBQ be out of "rice paper" which has been the case the last few times we are here... the ban chan could use an upgrade as well

    The service? Amazing! Yizel was attentive and our water, sides, and rice never ran dry! She truly…read moremade the visit worth it. The food? It was not it... although, I might be to blame because maybe I didn't know how it's supposed to be seasoned with the salt and sides. Also, a little overpriced for not being AYCE. Overall, though, we weren't disappointed - again, because Yizel made it a top tier experience!

    Photos
    Kalbi King Korean BBQ & Sushi
    Special combo #1
    Special combo #1
    Sides that come with the combo

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    Sides that come with the combo
    Chef's Choice Noodle Bar

    Chef's Choice Noodle Bar

    3.8
    (858 reviews)
    3.7 mi
    $$

    Great idea for a noodle house: make it more upscale and offer wine pairings with them as well…read more Lots of people at the bar at about 2:30 this Thursday, watching soccer... Sat in the back ( dining room) which was quieter. Anjelica, our server, was personable. Great menu, but I wasn't so hungry so just ate from my hubby's plate (! ) The garlic edamame was really good, not overwhelming like I was afraid it would be, and the drunken noodles had a bit of a kick to them. Good portions and out quickly.

    Had dinner this evening with Friends. Personally, I am offended because I suggested this as our…read more"Dinner of the Week". Ugh.... Our service was slow. Our server only remembered she had us in her area as we waved our two fingers to get her attention. It was a quiet night. I could see 4 other patrons in the general seating area. (Regardless- she received a Fab tip) Our food order was disappointing. Our appetizer, Crab Cakes, was greasy. TWO cakes. ?!? Our Entrees comprised of small, decimated over cooked and over sauced small servings in square bowls... ?!? 4 shrimps in our "Stir Fry". Seriously?! When a customer has multiple orders, and everyone wants to sample a little bit of this and a little bit of that... Do not expect this experience from this restaurant. Not gonna happen. I went to this restaurant when they were downtown. Good experience. I have no idea what's going on now once they've relocated to the Marketplace. Money best spent if you were to just go to the nearby Vons and pick up your own Thai or Chinese food & cook it at home. I wish we would have gone somewhere else.. 1.5 stars. We will not be a returning customer.

    Photos
    VIP area
    VIP area
    Papaya salad with grilled shrimp
    Papaya salad with grilled shrimp
    Cosmo- but not a real one!?!?

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    Cosmo- but not a real one!?!?

    Max's Restaurant - filipino - Updated June 2026

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